The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

How does a Director of Parish Music serve in the church? Jacob Roggow, Director of Parish Music at Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL, joins Andy and Sarah for the Set Apart to Serve series from the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music to talk about where his interest in music and parish music began, his formation to become a Director of Parish Music at Concordia University, Nebraska, how he cares for mental health as a church worker, and what he’s learned while attending the Institute. Learn more about our Lutheran understanding of worship at https://www.lcms.org/worship Christ’s church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers.Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations.Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS:1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers.2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers.3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation.To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.

How do Young Adult Volunteers (YAVs) serve at the LCMS Youth Gathering? Brandon Heath — LCMS Youth Gathering Planner: YAV Co-Manager and DCE at Christ Lutheran Church in La Mesa, CA, Laura Courvoisier — LCMS Youth Gathering Planner: YAV Co-Manager, Wes Gong — LCMS Youth Gathering Planner: YAV Leadership Team, and Leah Baranski — LCMS Youth Gathering Planner: YAV Leadership Team join Andy and Sarah to share their stories of serving as Young Adult Volunteers at previous Gatherings, how these experiences have shaped them into their current vocations, how YAVs will serve at the 2025 LCMS Youth Gatherings, and how to apply. Learn more and apply to be a YAV at lcmsgathering.com.

What was the state of the Church of England when Charles I became king? In episode 4 of our series on the Puritan Movement, learn about the difference between Calvinists and Anti-Calvinists/Anti-Puritanists, how Arminianism played a role in the developing theology of the time, who Charles Montague was and his role in the drama with Parliament and Charles I, and the growing tension between Charles I and his Parliament. Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah for our nine-episode series on the History of the Puritan Movement in England. Find more from Dr. Mackenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.Interested in more? Recommended reading from Dr. MacKenzie includes Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken, English Puritanism by John Spurr, Reformation in England by Peter Marshall, Puritan Christianity in America: Religion and Life in 17th Century Massachusetts by John Carden, and Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

How does Project 24 change the lives of students and families in Kenya? Britt Odemba, serving the Lord as an LCMS missionary in Kenya, joins Andy and guest co-host Rev. Kevin Robson, Chief Mission Officer for the LCMS, during our series on Mercy Stories to talk about how she became a missionary in Kenya, the ways in which she serves today, what Project 24 is and how it serves students and families, the relationship between Project 24 and Christ’s Care for Children: Kenya, who she collaborates with on the mission field to accomplish her work, what students learn at Project 24 schools, and the outlook for the future of these students and schools. Learn more about Britt Odemba and how to support her work at lcms.org/odemba. Find more information on Project 24 and Christ’s Care for Children: Kenya at lcms.org/make-a-gift/christs-care-for-children-kenya. Read more about Mercy Work in the LCMS at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy.

How do musicians serve the church in music composition? Kile and Jacqueline Smith, musicians serving the church, join Andy and Sarah at the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music to talk about how music has been a part of their lives, how they met and how music was a part of their relationship, how they became a part of the LCMS, and how they serve the church as musicians and composers. Learn more about our Lutheran understanding of worship at https://www.lcms.org/worship.

How does a Lutheran teacher build relationships with students, families, and colleagues? Debbie Armbruster, retired teacher at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and School in Eureka, MO, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about her experiences in Lutheran education as a student, how she was formed in her Lutheran faith and vocations at Lutheran schools, her journey to becoming a Lutheran educator, and how she uses her creative and varied background to build relationships with students, families, and colleagues. Christ’s church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers.Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations.Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS:1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers.2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers.3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation.To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.

How do visual art and graphic design serve the church and ministry of the Word? April Parviz, Graphic Designer and Visual Artist, joins Andy and Sarah from the 2024 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching, and Church Music to talk about her life as a graphic designer and visual artist, how excellence plays a role in creative arts, how her art is a reflection of who she is and what she believes, and her current series “Sleepers Awake.” Learn more about April and her work at aprilparviz.art. Learn more about Intersect Arts at intersectstl.org and the Holy Cross Lutheran feast service holycrossstl.org/feast. Learn more about our Lutheran understanding of worship at https://www.lcms.org/worship.A follow-up note from April: "Just to be clear, any good that comes through our prayers or music or art comes from God, and only God. We are not the ones controlling or creating that good. He just allows us to carry it sometimes, which is one of the most lovely gifts, I think."

We have come to the reign of King James in episode 3 of our series on the Puritan Movement. Who was King James and how did the Puritan Movement resurface during his reign? Hear about how the Puritan movement became the Separatists, when Puritans officially left the Church of England, the development of the group that would travel to the New World, and the story of the Puritans who traveled to Plymouth under Willliam Brewster. Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah for our nine-episode series on the History of the Puritan Movement in England. Find more from Dr. Mackenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.Interested in more? Recommended reading from Dr. MacKenzie includes Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken, English Puritanism by John Spurr, Reformation in England by Peter Marshall, Puritan Christianity in America: Religion and Life in 17th Century Massachusetts by John Carden, and Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

How has Soldiers of the Cross supported LCMS church workers? Deaconess Maryann Hayter, LCMS Manager of Grants Administration, joins Andy and guest co-host Rev. Kevin Robson, Chief Mission Officer for the LCMS, during our series on Mercy Stories to talk about what Soldiers of the Cross is, the scenarios in which a church worker may need support from Soldiers of the Cross, how this program supports the mission priorities of the LCMS, and how support from donors makes this mercy program a reality. Learn more about Soldiers of the Cross at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy/serving-church-workers/soldiers-of-the-cross. Read more about Mercy Work in the LCMS at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy and at https://lcms.org/mercystories.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School in Des Peres, MO, is celebrating 175 years with exciting expansion. Rev. Dr. Glen Thomas — Senior Pastor at St. Paul’s, Sharon Whitlock — Long-time member at St. Paul’s, and Mark Canon — President of the congregation at St. Paul’s, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the history of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School, how Sharon is related to some charter members of the congregation, how the church and school have evolved over the years, how the church and school have served the surrounding community over 175 years, and the exciting building expansion happening as the congregation continues to grow. Learn more about St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School at stpaulsdesperes.org.